July 18th

Arab League to form committee to probe Arafat's death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 18, 2012 - 12:00am The Arab League (AL) decided on Tuesday to set up an independent committee to probe the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The committee will work with the Palestinian side and Arab and international bodies to reveal the details behind Arafat's death, according to a statement issued after a meeting of the pan-Arab body's permanent delegates. The AL urged Palestinian investigators to provide all information available and other countries, especially France, to support the committee's work. » Read more

Israel nabs suspect in attack on activist's home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 17, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli police say they have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly spraying hate graffiti on the home of a prominent anti-settlement activist. Activist Hagit Ofran said she found messages on the stairwell of her Jerusalem apartment building on Monday reading "Hagit — you're dead." Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the suspect admitted to vandalizing the home, as well as the office of Ofran's employer, the Peace Now group. » Read more

Hamas now has monopoly on summer fun for Gaza kids ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am The Islamic militant Hamas has won a vital battle with the U.N. over the hearts of Gaza's children, moving unopposed into the summer camp sector this year after the world body ran out of money. That means Gaza kids who go to camp will have only the option of those that are heavy with lessons on Islam, political indoctrination and, in some cases, paramilitary training. » Read more

West Bank: Israel Authorizes University in Jewish Settlement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am An Israeli education committee voted Tuesday to grant full university status to an academic center in Ariel, a large Jewish settlement, making it the first Israeli university in the West Bank. Most of the world views the areas that Israal conquered from Jordan in the 1967 war, and where the Palestinians want to establish a future state, as occupied territory, and the Israeli settlements there as a violation of international law. Critics denounced the decision as a political move aimed at bolstering the settlement project. » Read more

Lieberman foresees early elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Moran Azulay - July 18, 2012 - 12:00am With Kadima's withdrawl from the coalition final, all eyes are on Avigdor Leiberman's Yisrael Beiteinu which is now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's senior coalition partner again. However, Lieberman is in no hurry to threaten resignation, despite the fact that his universal draft bill is not set to pass the Knesset vote on Wednesday. "We won't give anyone that pleasure," he told Ynet and suggested there is a possibility elections will be held in early 2013. » Read more

Unity Government in Israel Disbanding Over Dispute on Draft ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am The broadest unity coalition Israel has seen in many years broke apart Tuesday evening, rent by irreconcilable differences over how to integrate ultra-Orthodox men and Arab citizens into the military » Read more

July 17th

Occupation Divides Israeli Protest Movement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Jeffay - July 15, 2012 - 12:00am One year after Israel’s social protest movement was born, activists are battling over its soul. Throughout June, protestors once again started to flow into the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday nights. They all claimed to be reviving the demonstrations held weekly last summer, when tent cities proliferated all over the country. But it quickly became evident that this time, there were very different ideas among the protestors about what their demands should be. » Read more

The Palestinian Authority under pressure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Lucky Gold - (Opinion) July 16, 2012 - 12:00am We have been facing serious financial difficulties for more than two years CNN – Can the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority be revived by the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the region? On Monday, Christiane Amanpour sat down with Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Prime Minister, in his Ramallah office on the West Bank, where he expressed serious doubts – not only about the peace talks but about the very existence of the Palestinian Authority he represents: » Read more

'Mofaz mulling departure from coalition today' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Hoffman - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz will remove his party from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition as early as Tuesday if gaps between Likud and Kadima on how to equalize the burden of IDF service are not bridged, sources close to Mofaz said Monday. » Read more

Gaza Christians protest 'forcible conversions' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - July 16, 2012 - 12:00am Dozens of Gaza Christians staged a rare public protest Monday, claiming two congregants were forcibly converted to Islam and were being held against their will. The small but noisy demonstration showed the increasingly desperate situation facing the tiny minority. Protesters banged on a church bell and chanted, "With our spirit, with our blood we will sacrifice ourselves for you, Jesus." » Read more